PGCert Professional Development Practice

Overview

Successfully completing the PGCert Professional Development Practice will provide you with additional support in securing graduate level employment, through enabling you to gain the skills and knowledge required to enhance your employability prospects.

The PGCert Professional Development Practice is relevant to all recent graduates who aspire to increase their employability and gain a graduate level role within their chosen industry. This course provides an opportunity for you to critically reflect on the skills and experience you currently possess as well as providing you with support to explore and investigate your career options and the industry of your choice to create a detailed career plan.

This course also prepares you to market yourself as best as possible to potential employers in the near future and beyond. In addition, the course allows you to undertake a work placement to gain knowledge and skills within the industry of your choice to enhance your employability further.

On successful completion of study, we will issue the following award: PGCert Professional Development Practice.

Work placements

This course requires you to complete a work placement for a minimum of 70 hours in a role in the industry of your choice.

We will be able to support you in negotiating your own placement with the help of our expert advisors. This work placement will build your employability profile, allow you to sample your future career path, and in some cases could even lead to a job role. These experiences can take place locally, nationally or even internationally with the help of our SU Global Connections team. The possibilities are endless...

Course content

Within this part-time distance learning course, you will study 3 x 20 credit modules. Each module provides you with the skills and knowledge needed to explore, decide upon and successfully pursue your chosen career. The module learning outcomes are designed to develop your ability to investigate and reflect upon yourself and your chosen career path and provide you with the skills necessary to market yourself to employers.

The below lists the modules that make up the course and are all compulsory.

  • Design Your Life (20 credits)
  • Prototyping (20 credits)
  • Express Yourself (20 credits)

The Graduate Hub

Our Graduate Hub is an exclusive membership service for Staffs Uni graduates and is available to support you throughout your time on the PGCert and beyond.

You will get access to:

  • Your own Graduate Employability Consultant who will work with you individually through our graduate development programme
  • Online and on-campus workshops and video content
  • Online resources
  • Graduate mentoring
  • One to one Career Coaching
  • Regular newsletters
  • Jobs and discounted postgraduate study opportunities
  • And much more . . .

Find out more about The Graduate Hub. Email queries to graduatehub@staffs.ac.uk

Unitemps jobs

Unitemps is Staffordshire University’s own recruitment station, over the years they have developed strong links with local businesses across Stoke-on-Trent and North and South Staffordshire, offering work placements, internships, and employment to students, graduates and people from the local community.

Teaching

This course is offered as a part-time distance learning mode of delivery.

Throughout the course a variety of learning and teaching methods are used to provide you with the knowledge and skills for professional development. Online teaching sessions will take place, supported by independent and collaborative tasks via the University’s online platforms.

All students will need internet access and a suitable device for participating in this teaching.

Assessment

Each individual module is assessed separately and contributes to the final grade for the course. Each module is assessed through numerous methods. All assessments give you the opportunity to exhibit the skills and knowledge you have learnt throughout the module. You will be assessed through a variety of different methods, including:

  • Written reflections
  • Mock interviews
  • Professional discussion
  • Presentation

Learning support

Alongside your course tutors, you can also receive support from the University’s Academic Skills team, who are able to support with:

  • Study skills
  • Written English
  • Academic writing
  • Research skills
  • Critical thinking
  • Revision, assessment and exam skills

Additional support

If you have additional needs such as dyslexia or a sensory impairment, our Student Inclusion Services are here to support you.

Feedback

You will receive feedback on any work submitted for assessment. The feedback will enable you to learn and developed and we encourage you to discuss this feedback with your module tutor.

Delivery method
Distance learning
Duration

1 year

Start date

January 2023

Entry requirements

You’ll need:

  • An Honours degree
  • Participants should be looking to enhance their employability prospects and secure graduate level employment
  • For all stages of the course, it is necessary for participants to be able to have access to the Internet (to allow Virtual Learning Environment access and email contact for communication with course tutors and administrators)

Cost

The course is funded on the condition of full completion. If students do not fully complete the course, then a charge of £268 will apply.

How to apply

Applications will be discussed and confirmed through the Graduate Employability Team.

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